Safety appliance for mail-bags.



T. E. MoGANN.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR MAIL BAGS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1912.

' Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

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UNITED STATES THOMAS E. MCCANN, OF OSAGE CITY, KANSAS.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR MAIL-BAGS.

Application filed June 3,

crane to the passing train, and the object of my invention is the provi ion of means of the simplest and cheapest possible construction which will insure the mail bag being presented in the best possible position to the catching means on the train; which will be adjustable to various sized mail bags, and which will prove an efficient and practical improvement and will insure a saving of time and expense.

To attain the desired objects; my invention consists in the combination with mail bag receiving devices, of a safety appliance position to for retalning the bag in proper insure its practical delivery.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means of the character and for the purpose stated embodying novel features of construction and combinations of parts for service, substantially as disclosed herein.

In the accompanying drawing is shown a side elevation of my improvement showing in full lines the mail bag in position to be delivered to the passing train, and in dot-ted lines the position the levers assume after the mail bag has been delivered it being understood that while the construction shown is a practical embodiment of my improvement, I reserve the right to make any changes in such construction that may come within the scope of my claims.

The figure is a side elevation of a mail bag crane equipped with my improvements.

In the drawing, the letter usual post or support, at the base of which are the steps B, and at a suitable place upon the support are the hinges C for connecting the pair of arms or levers D, said levers having each at its outer end a spring catch or keeper E, the purpose of which catches are to engage the pair of rings F, which rings F are carried by the loops or eyes Gr secured to each end of the mail bag or sack H.

From this construction it will be observed Specification of Letters Patent.

the cost of A designates the Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

1912. Serial No. 701,270.

1 that when the arms are in position to support the mail bag, that the bag is retained through the medium of the rings in an upright position between said arms, and from the loops G of the mailbag leads the flexible connection or cord K, said cord when the mail bag is retained between the arms being in the shape of a yoke or bail and being retained by the catches K connected to the outer ends of the links L, whose inner ends are secured to the adjustable sleeves M mounted on the arms D and adjustable on said arms and retained in proper adjustment by the clamping screws N, and the upper arm D has engaging it and the post a spring 0, which when the bag has been delivered, throws the upper arm tothe position shown in dotted lines, while the lower arm falls to the position also shown in dotted lines.

The parts are in the position shown in full lines when the bag is located to be caught by the appliance on the moving train, and as soon as the catching appliance engages the bag, the bag is instantly drawn from its engagement with the catches on the arm and with the bag is taken from its securing means the flexible cord or connection K, and as soon as the mail bag is withdrawn, the levers return to their normal position and the application of another bag can be instantly effected.

It will be observed that my improvement may be adjusted to mail bags of different sizes and to pivoted arms of different lengths, as circumstances require, and that the bag will always be presented in the best possible condition for its instant delivery to the passing train, and also that my improvements will add practically nothing to mail bag and crane construction in general use.

I claim 1. In combination with the port, a pair of hinged arms, a mail sack having means for detachably connecting its ends to said arms, and a safety cord connected to the mail bag and to said arms and adjustable laterally on said arms by means of slidable clamps and set screws.

2. In combination with a post or support, a pair of hinged arms, a mail sack having means for detachably connecting its ends to said arms, and a safety cord connected to the mail bag and to said arms, said connection between the cord and arms being adpost or sup-. 1

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justable laterally on the arms and being flexible.

3. In combination with the post or support, a pair of hinged arms having catches at their outer ends, a mail bag carrying rings for engaging said catches, a cord or connection leading from said mail bag and flexible links connecting the cord With the arms.

4. In combination With the post or support, a pair of hinged arms having catches at their outer ends, a mail bag carrying rings for engaging said catches, a cord or connection leading from said mail bag, flexible links formed With guiding catches engaging the cord and connecting the cord With the arms, and a spring connecting one of said arms With the post for throwing said arm out of the Way after the bag has been delivered.

5. The combination With a support having arms hinged thereto, a mail receptacle detachably supported between said arms, clamps adjustable laterally on said arms, links on said clamps, guiding catches on the inner ends of said links, and a flexible connection leading from said mail receptacle and engaged by said catches.

6. The combination With a support having arms hinged thereto, a mail receptacle detachably supported between said arms, clamps adjustable laterally on said arms, links on said clamps inclined outwardly toward the mail receptacle, guiding catches on the inner ends of said links, a flexible connection leading from said mail receptacle and engaged by said catches, and a spring connecting the upper arm and the support.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS E. MCCANN.

Witnesses:

JACOB PENoE, WVILLIAM SCHULTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

